Gotta Have Art

Maggie Standley of Wingspan Painting Studio works with all kinds of kids in her art-focused vacation camps, but she makes a special effort to reach the ones who can't afford to attend. That's why she started Spread Your Wings, a program focused on low-income youth served by organizations such as the Committee on Temporary Shelter and Women Helping Battered Women. The effort raises scholarship funds for kids to attend Standley's camps in Burlington's South End. "I grew up in a very challenging environment," the artist and teacher explains, "and it was people outside of my home who provided experiences, a sense of safety and hope." Standley aims to provide the same at her mixed media camps, which offer a lively assortment of activities, including African art, French instruction and yoga.

Founded as the first girls camp in the US, we are a family run business providing a completely elective activity program, which allows campers to choose only the activities meaningful to them. Girls build skill and confidence in their favorite activities and build self-esteem, self-concept, and leadership skills. Campers are…(more)